Lethrinus, Lethrinidae, Percoidei) from Three Areas Around Sulawesi (Indonesia) with Different Levels of Destructive Fishing
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Volume 13, Supplementary Issue, December 2020 ISSN 1995-6673 JJBS Pages 637 - 646 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences Landmark-based Morphometric and Meristic Variations in Emperors (Lethrinus, Lethrinidae, Percoidei) from Three Areas around Sulawesi (Indonesia) with Different Levels of Destructive Fishing Muhammad Afrisal1, Nurjirana1, Irmawati1, Yukio Iwatsuki2 and Andi Iqbal 3,* Burhanuddin 1Department of Fisheries Science, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia; 2 Division of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Miyazaki University, Japan. 3 Marine Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia Received: December 30, 2019; Revised: February 23, 2020; Accepted: April 6, 2020 Abstract This study analysed the variation in morphometric and meristic characteristics among fishes in the genus Lethrinus from three areas around Sulawesi (Indonesia) with different levels of destructive fishing: Makassar, South Sulawesi, high; Manado, North Sulawesi, medium; and Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, low. The research was conducted from June- November 2019. Morphometric characters (21) and meristic characters (8) of L. erythropterus, L. semicintus, L. obsoletus, L. ornatus, and L. harak were measured (30 specimens/species/site). Morphometric characters were compared between areas using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey Test. Characteristic traits and similarities between species/areas were evaluated using Multivariate Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) test and tree diagram (dendrogram) analysis. For the five lethrinid species studied there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in morphometric characters between the Makassar population and the populations in Manado and Wakatobi. Interestingly, meristic count variability was greater in lethrinids from Makassar and Manado compared to those from the Wakatobi marine protected area. Differences in destructive fishing level between areas are one factor influencing lethrinid morphometric and meristic characters, which can also be influenced by other environmental conditions. Keywords: Sulawesi, morphometric, meristic, destructive fishing, Lethrinidae uniform between areas (Unsworth et al., 2018; Briggs 1. Introduction (2003) categorised the risk level as high in the waters off Makassar in South Sulawesi, medium in the waters off Emperors (Perciformes: Lethrinidae) are a group of Manado in North Sulawesi, and low in the waters of the high-value coral reef-associated fishes found in tropical Wakatobi Archipelago in Southeast Sulawesi. The past 44 and sub-tropical waters. Emperors can be found from the years have also seen changes in the coral cover of back-reef area, including shallow seagrass beds, to the reef Sulawesi reefs (Nurdin et al, 2016; Nurdin et al, 2015; crest and slopes to depths of a few hundred meters Edinger et al, 1998). (Carpenter and Allen, 1989). There are approximately 29 Fishing pressure and destructive fishing along with species of emperors in the Family Lethrinidae, of which phenomena associated with global warming are increasing 86% have been reported from Indonesian waters the pressure on fish communities (Andrés et al, 2013). (Carpenter and Randall, 2003; Lo Galbo et al, 2002). The Fishes of the genus Lethrinus are protogynous Lethrinidae are further divided into two subfamilies: the hermaphrodites (Marriott et al, 2010; Motlagh et al, Lethrininae (with a single genus: Lethrinus) and the 2010), changing from female to male after more than five Monotaxinae (genera Gnathodentex, Monotaxis and years, at around 33 cm total length (Wassef, 1991). In Wattsia). addition to the high fishing mortality of small size classes, The high volume of exports and lack of regulation on global warming phenomena are detrimental to fitness, with the trade in fishes of the genus Lethrinus have given rise to impacts at the population level including imbalance in the concerns regarding the condition of these populations. sex ratio of Lethrinus populations. This imbalance can lead Furthermore, in addition to heavy demand from the export to the emergence of cryptic species which can affect the market, Lethrinus populations are threatened by the population structure in multi-species Lethrinus various destructive fishing methods used to catch these communities, with the potential to severely affect the valuable fish (Briggs, 2003). Destructive fishing is condition and even the survival of these fisheries prevalent in the seas around Sulawesi, but severity is not resources, including changes in morphological characters. * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]. 638 © 2020 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved - Volume 13, Supplementary Issue At an intra-species level, however, change in identification, discrimination, and classification of fishery morphological characteristics is not always controlled stocks, and can also indicate differences in growth and principally by genetic factors, but rather by changes in the maturation rates because body form is a product of surrounding environment (Clayton, 1981). Phenotypic ontogeny (Hayward and Margraf, 1987; Roby et al, 1991; plasticity is strategy employed by many fishes to enable Cadrin, 2000). These considerations prompted this them to adapt to their environment through physiological research with the aim of analysing the biodiversity and and behavioural modifications which can lead to or entrain population structure of Lethrinus species in waters around morphological and reproductive changes and alter survival Sulawesi using an approach based on morphometric rates in order to reduce the impacts of environmental characters. The results of this research will contribute to change. Such strategies do not necessarily result in genetic the scientific basis for forming policies and outlining changes within the population, and such morphological effective strategies to manage and conserve Lethrinus differences between populations cannot be used as proof of communities. genetic differences (Meyer, 1987; Stearns, 1983). In the context of stock management for fishes such as 2. Materials and Methods the genus Lethrinus, the analysis of differences in morphometric and meristic characters can enable the This research was carried out from June to November grouping of individuals or populations (Burhanuddin, 2019 in three sea areas around Sulawesi, Indonesia: the 2014). Quantitative morphometric studies are an important waters of Manado City in North Sulawesi Utara; the key to determining sex and species (Brzesky and Doyle, waters off Makassar City in South Sulawesi; and the 1988), describing the patterns of morphological traits waters of the Wakatobi District (Wakatobi Archipelago) in which can differentiate between populations or species Southeast Sulawesi (Figure 1). Samples were collected and (Ballesteros-Córdova et al, 2016; Firawati et al, 2017), in then analysed at the Marine Biology Laboratory, Faculty taxonomic classification and the estimation of of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, phylogenetic relationships, and in identifying new species in Makassar. (Burhanuddin and Iwatsuki, 2003). Landmark-based morphometric methods are increasingly used in the Figure 1. Sampling locations for Lethrinid fishes within Sulawesi waters: (A) Manado, North Sulawesi; (B) Makassar, South Sulawesi; (C) Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi. The total number of fish sampled was 450 specimens, Hubbs and Lagler (1958) (Table 1, Figure 2), except for belonging to five species of the genus Lethrinus: L. the number of gill-rakers (Burhanuddin et al, 2002). erythropterus, L. semicintus, L. obsoletus, L. ornatus, and Measurements were made using digital callipers (WIPRO, L. harak. The measurement of morphometric and meristic WP-150B, precision 0.02 mm). characters mostly followed Brzesky and Doyle (1988) and © 2020 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved - Volume 13, Supplementary Issue 639 Table 1. Lethrinus morphometric characters measured, based on Brzesky and Doyle (1988). Body Section Code Character Description A1 Posteriormost point of maxilla to origin of pelvic fin A2 Posteriormost point of maxilla to posteriormost point of eye A3 Posteriormost point of eye to origin of dorsal fin Head A4 Origin of pelvic fin to origin of dorsal fin A5 Posteriormost point of eye to origin of pelvic fin A6 Posteriormost point of maxilla to origin of dorsal fin B1 Origin of pelvic fin to origin of anal fin B3 Origin of dorsal fin to point between spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin Anterior Body B4 Origin of anal fin to point between spinous and soft portion of dorsal fin B5 Origin of dorsal fin to origin of anal fin B6 Origin of pelvic fin to point between spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin C1 Origin of anal fin to insertion of anal fin C3 Point between spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin to insertion of dorsal fin Posterior C4 Insertion of anal fin to insertion of dorsal fin Body C5 Point between spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin to insertion of anal fin C6 Origin of anal fin to insertion of anal fin D1 Insertion of anal fin to anterior attachment of ventral membrane from caudal fin D3 Insertion of dorsal fin to anterior attachment of dorsal membrane from caudal fin Tail Anterior attachment of ventral membrane from caudal fin to anterior attachment of dorsal D4 membrane from caudal fin D5 Insertion of dorsal fin to anterior attachment